Geranium plant named ‘New Dimension’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of  Geranium  plant named ‘New Dimension’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and uniform plant habit; freely flowering habit; and light violet-colored flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Geranium pratensecultivar New Dimension.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant, botanically known as Geranium pratense, and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name New Dimension.

The new Geranium is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of theGeranium pratense cultivar Victor Reiter, not patented. The new Geraniumwas discovered by the Inventor in May, 1999 in a controlled environmentin Vinhega, The Netherlands. The new Geranium was selected on the basisof its numerous uniquely colored flowers.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by micropropagation in alaboratory in Zandvoort, The Netherlands has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar New Dimension have not been observed under allpossible environmental and cultural conditions. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and lightintensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘New Dimension’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘New Dimension’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and uniform plant habit.    -   2. Freely flowering habit.    -   3. Light violet-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Geranium are most similar to plants of the parent, thecultivar Victor Reiter, however plants of the new Geranium differ fromplants of the cultivar Victor Reiter in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium are more uniform in plant shape        than plants of the cultivar Victor Reiter.    -   2. Plants of the new Geranium are more freely flowering than        plants of the cultivar Victor Reiter.    -   3. Plants of the new Geranium and the cultivar Victor Reiter        differ in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Geranium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Geranium.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical one-year old flowering plant of ‘New Dimension’ grown in acontainer.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical open flower of ‘New Dimension’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view ofthe upper surface of a typical leaf of ‘New Dimension’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for theaforementioned photographs and following description were about one yearold and grown under outdoor field conditions which closely approximatecommercial production conditions in Boskoop, The Netherlands. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14 to 27° C. andnight temperatures ranged from 4 to 16° C. The photographs anddescription were taken in July, 2002.

-   Botanical classification: Geranium pratense cultivar New Dimension.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Geranium    pratense cultivar Victor Reiter, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By micropropagated plantlets.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 40 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted micropropagated plantlet.—About 90            days.        -   Root description.—Thick; light brown in color.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Perennial flowering plant; upright, outwardly            spreading, mounded and uniform growth habit; inverted            triangle.        -   Plant height.—About 27 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 32 cm.        -   Vigor.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Lateral branch description.—Number per plant: Freely            branching, about six lateral branches per plant. Length:            About 9.1 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About            9.1 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Densely pubescent. Fragrance: Aromatic when rubbed. Color:            178A to 183A.        -   Stipule description.—Quantity: Two stipules per internode.            Length: About 9 mm. Width: About 3.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: 185A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Length:            About 8 cm. Width: About 7.6 cm. Shape: Deeply palmately            lobed. Apex: Acute. Base: Hastate. Margin: Deeply incised.            Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower            surface: Dense pubescence at main veins and margins.            Venation pattern: Palmate. Petiole: Length: About 13 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Color: Developing foliage, upper            surface: Between 137A and 139A. Developing foliage, lower            surface: 138A. Mature foliage, upper surface: 137A; apices,            between N186A to 200A. Mature foliage, lower surface: 138A            to 138B. Venation, upper surface: 137A. Venation, lower            surface: 138B to 138C. Petiole, upper surface: 178A.            Petiole, lower surface: 148A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Appearance.—Single rotate flowers with five petals arranged            on open cymes; flowers face mostly outwardly. Flowers not            persistent.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit, about 15            flowers per lateral stem.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            June to mid-July in The Netherlands.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About five days.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 5.2 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7.6 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.6 cm.        -   Flower height (depth).—About 1.7 cm.        -   Flower buds (about five days before opening).—Length: About            1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color, upper            surface: 200C. Color, lower surface: 138A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five. Length: About 2 cm.            Width: About 1.6 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex: Rounded,            somewhat irregular. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Texture: Slightly ruffled; base of petals, glandular            pubescence. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:            N88B; venation, 85C; venation less pronounced on lower            surface. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: N87A to            N87B; venation, 85D; venation less pronounced on lower            surface.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five. Length: About 9 mm.            Diameter: About 6 mm. Calyx shape: Rotate; slightly cupped.            Shape: Ovate. Apex: Aristate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper surface: Smooth. Texture, lower surface:            Glandular pubescence. Color: Immature and mature, upper            surface: 143B; longitudinal stripes, 165B. Immature and            mature, lower surface: 165A; longitudinal stripes, 200C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Angle: About 30 to 50° from vertical. Strength: Strong.            Color: 178A to 183A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Angle:            About 30 to 50° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Color: 178A            to 183A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About            ten. Anther shape: Oblong; dorsifixed. Anther size: About 1            mm by 2 mm. Anther color: N186A. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: 197A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 1 cm. Style length: About 8 mm. Style            color: 174C; towards the base, 138A. Stigma color: 174B.            Ovary color: 138A.        -   Fruits.—Quantity per flower: One. Length: About 3 cm.            Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture: Smooth with longitudinal            ridges. Color, upper surface: 177A. Color, lower surface:            138A.        -   Seeds.—Quantity per fruit: About 50. Length: About 1 mm.            Diameter: About 1 mm. Color: 175A to slightly darker than            175A.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Geranium have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Geranium.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Geranium have been observed    to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from −20 to 40° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘New Dimension’,as illustrated and described.